Lifestyle

Images of India’s huge and controversial wedding

After five days the most lavish but controversial Indian wedding of the year draws to a close.

The weddingJANARDHANA REDDY FAMILY
One of the world’s most extravagant weddings has been held in the southern state of Karnataka. It is estimated to have cost at least 5bn rupees ($74m; £59m).
Picture from the Reddy weddingKASHIF MASOOD
The wedding of businessman and Indian politician G Janardhana Reddy’s daughter, Brahmani, has been met with anger as millions of Indians are struggling in the midst of a cashflow crisis.The brideJANARDHANA REDDY FAMILY
The bride’s wedding sari alone cost 170m rupees ($2.5m; £2m) and she wore jewellery worth 900m rupees ($13m; £10m), reports said.
The groom JANARDHANA REDDY FAMILY
The groom, 23-year-old Rajeev Reddy, is the scion of a business family from the southern city of Hyderabad.
Brazilian samba dancers at the Reddy weddingKASHIF MASOOD
Brazilian samba dances were just one of the many shows put on for the guests at the wedding.
Father, bride and groomKASHIF MASOOD
Some on social media have said the backlash is unfair. Mr Reddy has been quoted as saying he made all payments six months ago – before the government withdrew old banknotes in a crackdown on corruption – and mortgaged properties to pay for the nuptials.
Bride and groomKASHIF MASOOD
But with gold-plated invitations and Bollywood stars performing at the wedding, critics have described the lavish ceremony as an “obscene display of wealth”.
The wedding venueKASHIF MASOOD
Preparations at the sprawling Bangalore Palace venue took months to complete. Sets resembling ancient Hindu temples were built in which to conduct the ceremonies.
Mr Reddy (left) with his daughter and other family membersJANARDHANA REDDY FAMILY
More than 50,000 guests attended the wedding. Reports said 2,000 taxis ferried guests to and from the venue and 15 temporary helipads were set up to fly in special invitees.